BGEMEA President Faruque Hassan has called for greater cooperation and collaboration between garment exporters and clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents to expedite export-import activities and derive mutual business benefits.
“The RMG industry has gone through a rough patch in the last two tumultuous years of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, braving all the challenges caused by the pandemic, we have significantly come back to business. Now new opportunities have arisen for the apparel industry and our exports are growing. We hope for more business in the coming days,” he said.
Since apparel exports is a time-bound business where delivery of goods must be done within a lead-time specified by buyers, it is imperative to ensure loading and unloading of freights in the quickest possible time to meet the rising demand of business, he further said.
Faruque Hassan made the observations while exchanging views with A. K. M. Akhter Hossain, President of Chittagong Customs Clearing & Forwarding Agents Association (CCCFAA) in Chattogram on Saturday.
BGMEA First Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam, Vice President Shahidullah Azim, Vice President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President Md. Nasir Uddin, Vice President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, Directors A.M. Shafiul Karim (Khokon), Md. Hassan (Jacky), M. Ahsanul Hoq and Mohammed Meraj-E-Mostafa (Kaisar). High officials of BEZA were present at the meeting.
CCCFAA 1st Vice-President Syedul Mostafa Chowdhury (Raju), 3rd Vice President Michchu Saha, General Secretary Md. Altaf Hossain Chowdhury (Bachchu), 1st Joint-General Secretary Quazi Mahmud Imam (Bilu), 2nd Joint-General Secretary Md. Golam Rabbani (Reagan), 1st Assistant Customs Affairs Secretary Ashraful Haque Khan (Swapan), Customs Affairs Secretary Md. Obaidul Hoque (Alamgir), 2nd Assistant Customs Affairs Secretary Md. Abul Khair, Port Affairs Secretary Md. Liakat Ali Howlader and 2nd Assistant Port Affairs Secretary Md. Hasan Murad also attended the meeting.
Expressing optimism for better business prospects for the RMG industry, the BGMEA President said increase in apparel exports also means more business for C&F agents.
Given the emerging situations, apparel exporters and C&F agents need to work in a more collaborative and cooperative approach to match up with increased trade flow, thus creating a win-win situation for both sides, he said.
They will also jointly protest against customs and bond related harassment during delivery and export of RMG items and move together to address them, said the leaders of BGMEA and CCCFAA in the meeting.
He requested C&F agents to enhance their capacity and efficiency more to quicken freight delivery, thus reducing lead time.
Smooth and faster delivery of goods will help to underpin trade growth, Faruque Hassan added.